Living in God's World

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Adam and his wife Eve, as he was later to name her, shared in the bliss of the beautiful Garden of Eden God had made for them. They played with the animals, climbed the majestic trees, and ate the fruit the trees produced. At night they chose a comfortable place on the ground and slept the sleep of the content. Fear did not exist. They lived in perfect harmony with all of God’s creation. As husband and wife, they never disagreed or argued for they had no awareness of self. In fact they didn’t realize that they were naked. There was no shame in their world.

One day Adam and Eve were walking near the middle of the garden. Adam went a short distance away to look at one of the plants he’d not seen before. Eve went near the forbidden tree to view it more fully. The serpent seeing his chance was quick to join her.

Genesis 3:1-6

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Adam and Eve lived in a state of perfect peace. They wanted for nothing. Death did not exist, there was no fear, and even the weather was nice. They had world peace! And, for those who have experience the presence of God in times of worship, you know there is nothing sweeter then the presence of God. Adam and Eve had that all the time! The choice to disobey God and open themselves to the knowledge of good and evil came at a high price. They had everything we desire. What were they thinking?

Adam and Eve were created good, but they had no knowledge of good. They just were. Just like hot and cold define each other, so good and evil must define each other. You can’t understand “good” without the contrast of “evil”. Imagine being inherently good without having to make the choice to be good. For us we know that having the knowledge of good and evil isn’t that great. Now we have to make a choice. How often we choose evil.

I can’t blame Adam and Eve for wanting something more. I know the wonders of God, yet everyday I’m looking for something more. God knows what I need, and He provides it daily. The “more” I want will most likely harm me, but I want it. Every day I have to remind myself that God is sufficient. He is all I need.